How does magic even work chapter 16

yeah I know what you're thinking.

''OMG Kladkake's back'' !crowd cheering!

Well sorry to tell you guys but I will probably write this story really slowly, I got some stuff to do and games to play.. and anime to watch... and LN's to read. And just stuff in general.

!crowds cheering gets louder!

Naruto smiled to himself as he tied the last length of bandage together and then stepped back to admire his masterpiece. He had just spent almost twenty minutes wrapping his giant sword up in bandages so he would be allowed to take it with him on the train.

He figured that the best way to start getting used to the thing would be to carry it with him as much as possible. With a resigned sigh he put his backpack on and then hefted the sword up and rested it on his shoulder. After taking a moment to get his balance back he started making his way to the train station.

It was already getting late, about nine or ten in the evening so other than him only some of the people who were on their way to or on their way back from the various bars in magnolia were out.

It didn't take long for him to reach the train station, but getting in proved to be troublesome when the workers in the station began asking about the sword he was lugging around. After some arguing he was forced to leave the sword in the cargo car at the back of the train.

Then he finally got to board himself, he didn't need to look around for a seat since he was the only one on the train so he simply took the seat closest too the door. With nothing other to do than wait for the train to start moving he relaxed in his seat and closed his eye's.

According to the man he talked to before getting on the train it would take all night to get to Crocus, so he could go to sleep now and wake up before they got there. Before he knew it he had fallen asleep and the train started moving, marking the start of his trip to the royal city of Fiore.

XOXOOXOXOXOXOOX

His eyes fluttered open and took in the scenery outside the window his face was harshly pressed against. All he could see was a short fence and trees, above that he could see the sun about to rise over the tree line. He guessed it was about seven in the morning, he thought, now what the hell was it that was crushing him.

With some effort he managed to push IT away enough to escape out of his seat, he stumbled into the seat in front of him and turned around to see what it was, and then he felt the color leave his face. It was an extremely large and fat old man, he shivered when he felt that his entire left side felt somewhat wet.

``oooh seems you are awake now young man.´´ Naruto looked over to a small lady next to him, she smiled gently at him ``i told my hubby to not be a bother, but then he fell asleep. But look at his handsome face though.. he looks good even when he is sleeping.´´ she sighed dreamily as she lovingly looked at the man.

Naruto glanced at the sleeping man with a frown and then turned back to the lady, `` He's drooling.´´ the lady giggled strangely ``ye~es is it not adorable, my hubby is like a child.´´ Naruto vacantly looked back and forth from the drooling fat man and the giggling little lady, he tried to find words but nothing came to mind.

Luckily for Naruto a man in a red vest entered the wagon and loudly cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, he took a second to make sure everyone was looking his way before speaking. ``Ladies and gentlemen I am sure you have noticed that the train has yet to move from this station yes? The reason for that will be explained to you if you would all kindly take your luggage and step out of the train. My colleagues will explain further outside, now if you will excuse me.´´ the man took measured steps through the wagon and opened the door to the next one.

As if the door closing was a trigger everyone suddenly began standing up and taking their things, then slowly getting of the train. Naruto was forced to wait for the fat man and strange lady to get up before he could slip out, then he quickly noticed that most of the people were congregating around the exit.

When he walked over to them he saw that the exit was blocked by a few men dressed in red and one woman with a stern expression. After a minute of waiting one of the men nudged her shoulder and whispered something, she made an obvious face of realization then nodded to the man that had nudged her.

She took a step forward and began talking loudly enough that everyone in the crowd would be able to hear her. ``Everyone! I apologize for this inconvenience, but the train will not be able to leave this station for at least another week!´´

The crowd started murmuring about what the problem might be, the woman raised her voice again silencing the crowd ``The train wont be going anywhere because a large portion of track is missing! Because of a failed mission request a pack of Iron bulls found their way to the tracks and... ate them!´´

As the crowd began talking again the woman took a step back and in her place a short man carrying a box came forth. He placed the box down then stood on top of it, taking a moment to get his balance back then he began speaking in a surprisingly deep voice.

``People! I am sorry that your plans will be delayed. However! I have talked to the two hotel owners in this town and they have agreed to provide rooms for as many of you as possible. Now with the threat of the iron bulls it may be dangerous to take the smaller roads to the next town but if possible I will look into hiring transportation.´´ he looked over the crowd then nodded to himself.

``Well then, I suggest you all take your luggage off the train because it will return soon enough. I will make sure you all know when the trains are available again.´´ He then walked away without another word.

The strict looking woman came back with a clueless look, switching her gaze from the mayor and the crowd a few times before shakily yelling ``HA-... HAVE A GOOH DAY!´´ she face then became red as she realized her slip up. When some muffled laughter came out of the crowd she turned and ran out of the station.

One of the blue dressed men suddenly slapped another ones shoulder and hurriedly told him ``Tim! Don't just stand there! This is your chance. Go.. uh comfort her or something!´´

The man in question looked startled ``wait wha...´´ He started but stopped and leaned in closer to the other man and asked ``Whaddaya mean?´´

The first man sighed ``Dammit Tim.. look.. I'm pretty sure chicks like it when a guy comforts them when they feel like they messed up... or something.´´ A man in the crowd suddenly piped in ``yeah! That's how I met my wife!´´ then another one ``yeah go for it buddy!´´ and one more ``Ask her out on a date or something!´´ ``No you gotta go slow! Stick to the comforting plan!´´ ``Get a flower and some chocolate for her!´´

Naruto slipped out of the crowd and started walking back to the cargo car where his sword and backpack was. On the short walk there he had to weave between the many people who had already gotten their luggage. Then when he reached the car he had to wait for a pair of large men to carry a large heavy looking crate.

After letting them pass Naruto was taken aback by the mess inside, when he had left his things he had just put them on the floor by a corner. But now all the bags and boxen left in the car were all stacked on top of his things. He groaned loudly when another passenger shoved past him grabbed a bag and tossed it on top of the already large pile.

But complaining wasn't going to get his bag and sword out so he started shoving the other things out of the way. After a few minutes and angry people telling him not to touch their things he uncovered his things and began walking out of the station.

On his way out he noticed a sign board just by the entry to the station, due to it's similarity to the job request board in the guild he couldn't help but take a closer look. However he was disappointed, on the board there were only notices about things in the town, and three different notices with application info to some sort of martial arts school.

As he read a small note that looked similar to a mission request he felt his belly rumble, he sighed as he realized that he would have to find somewhere to eat breakfast. That was always troublesome when he came to new places, finding a restaurant that served ramen could be hard, especially in small towns.

XOXOXOOXOXO

Sitting at a table outside a small cafe a girl sat smiling to herself, as she gently swiped a short knife over a smooth stone over and over. After a while she gently turned the small knife over and ran a finger over the edge, and smiled as a drop of blood came out. ``perfect.´´ she whispered and smiled at her work.

``aah! Miss I already told you we don't appreciate you sharpening our knives in the middle of the cafe! And your finger is bleeding!´´

With a sigh she gave the woman who was nagging at her a glare and asked ``why are you still here? Other customers want to order stuff too.´´ seriously cafe workers are supposed to be more attentive to all the customers.

``But you're the only customer in here! And you haven't even ordered anything!´´ she glanced at the empty tables to her left and right. ``And please don't bring a sharpening rock into the cafe.´´ The cafe aide nervously stepped back when the girl in front of her suddenly stood up and turned to her.

``First off!´´ she proclaimed as she tried to get up in the taller woman's face. ``This is a whetstone, not some rock! And secondly these knives are horrible! What do you even think these are used for? Slicing butter!?´´

``b-but.. that IS a butter knife...´´ a tense silence followed as the girl inspected the small clunky knife she had spent an hour sharpening for just about no reason. The girl suddenly turned around and picked her whetstone off the table and walked away from the cafe. The waitress nervously called out to her before she got too far away ``hey.. at least leave the butter knife.´´

The girl stopped and sighed deeply before turning and slowly walked back to the woman and reluctantly returned the knife. The woman carefully accepted it from the pouting girl and put it away as she left.

With a frown she started walking along the street, she didn't really have anything to do today. `Maybe I should just go back home and watch a movie.´ she thought but shook her head and kept on walking.

But then she noticed that something was different, there were people, lots of people walking around. The normal amount of tourism was something like three or four families stopping by just to spend a night at a hotel. But now there were more than she cared to try and count, the question was, why?

After some thought she knew just who to ask, her favorite bar owner Jim. She could probably trick him into giving her a free breakfast as well.

XOXOXOXO

``Here's the sandwiches kid.´´ Naruto flinched when a gruff voice said that and a plate with a few slices of bread and cheese slammed down in front of him. Then he blankly stared at the dry bread and thick piece of cheese on the plate.

With a deep sigh he used a knife to cut the cheese down to size and then ate it with the bread. As he chewed on the not that tasty cheese and bread he sighed again ``I hate this place..´´ he mumbled.

He had good reason to say those words, and not only because an old man at another table was served a proper toasted cheese sandwich and a complimentary glass of orange juice.

After he left the station to find food he had managed to stumble by one of the hotels in the town, so he decided to go in and get a room. Only to be greeted by a familiar face, which after a second glared at him.

``Hey wait aren't you... uh...´´ Naruto tried to remember the name of the hotel manager in magnolia.

The man before him sighed in annoyance and then angrily said ``MACK! His name is Mack dammit!´´ he pulled at his hair when he heard Naruto quietly say `oh I thought it was something else.´

``Oh but uh.. anyways I need a room here for about a week-´´

``No.´´

``...´´

``I'm not giv'in you a room brat now get out!´´

``Wait hey! Why not!? I'm a customer here ya'know!´´

The man behind the counter snorted and brought up a few papers from a little desk behind him, ``This here is the last few letters I've gotten from Mack, ill just read the important part for ya... `There's a brat stay'in at my hotel, I put a picture of him in the envelope, he's been staying here for more than a month and has yet to pay up. If ya ever see him you should turn him away.´ and just so ya know yer bill at his hotel should be at something like 400,000 jewel by now.´´

Silence reigned for a few seconds, the hotel clerk looking smug and Naruto contemplating what he had just been told.

``So are you going to let me rent a room or not?´´

``I already said no kid! Now get out, you can try that Hyuuga Hotel place on the other side of town!'' As he said that he grabbed the boys shoulder and led him out the door.

Naruto struggled to go back in for a few seconds before giving up, and glared at the hotel clerk ''Well where is the other hotel then!?''

''Other side 'a town-'' floated out through the door before it closed completely and Naruto groaned at the vague description. Then after giving the door a good hard kick he set of in the direction he thought was right.

That direction turned out to be wrong however and it took more than an hour for him to find the place he was looking for. It was a large fancy looking building with a large sign that stretched over the entrance, on it stood 'Hyuuga hotel'.

He felt out of place as he walked into the lobby and heard slow music playing, he walked over to the receptionist that was absently writing something on a paper. When he got close the man looked at him and Naruto froze for a second. The man had completely white eyes, for a second it he didn't know if his eyes were open or not.

''yes?'' the man asked after a few seconds.

''a-aah! Uh. Yeah I.. I want to rent a room here for about a week.'' Naruto felt a little nervous, being looked at by those strange eyes. They were sort of cool though.

''Sorry but all rooms have already been occupied by the people that arrived early this morning.''

''...so...are there any other places I can go get a room at then?''

The man sighed softly as he looked out the doors ''If I am not wrong mister Nick on the other side of town is the only other hotel owner around here. Would you like me to give you directions?''

Naruto with a sigh said no and left the fancy hotel, after walking around trying to figure out what to do his stomach rumbled so he entered the closest restaurant he could find.

And now he was eating dry bread and cheese that made him twitch when he ate it. He took a sip of water and glanced at the old man that loudly ate his properly made sandwich with a serene smile. `hope you choke´ and other dark thought went through his mind as he finished the last bit of cheese on his plate.

After leaving some cash on the table he got up, grabbed the massive sword that he propped up against the wall and left the crappy restaurant. He still needed to find a place to sleep tonight. On his way out he was greeted by a girl about his age who was for some reason staring at him blankly. With the way he had been treated in this town he felt that it would be better to not say anything to the gawking girl and just leave.

Well he tried to leave at least, as he walked past the girl suddenly grabbed the handle of the sword on his back. When he was jerked to a halt Naruto sighed and looked at the girl who still had a slightly blank look on her face. ''...what are you doing?'' he asked after a few seconds of staring.

That seemed to snap the girl back to reality as she suddenly started glaring at him ''what do you mean, what am I doing?! What do you think you're doing!? Who's sword do you think this is?''

Naruto just gave her a blank stare ''it's... mine?... This is my sword. I got it from a guy that I...'' he trailed off, only after saying it did he think about how strange the circumstances of how he had gotten the sword were.

The girls face darkened and tried to pull the sword of his back, he quickly grabbed it and pulled back. ''there's no way you just got this from someone! Master said there was only one, and it's the one she is using!'' she started pulling harder, and somehow she was almost able to pull it out of his grasp.

That was the last straw for Naruto, strange people on the train, that stupid hotel clerk, crappy service in a restaurant and now some girl was trying to take his sword and was pretty close to actually getting it out of his hands. 'No', thought Naruto, 'no way I'm staying in this town.'

A glance at the floor told him that the shade from the chairs and tables made it just dark enough for him. He looked up straight at the girl who was trying to steal from him and said in an exasperated voice ''Oblivion''.

The girl looked at him questioningly for a moment before she felt something wrapping around her legs, looking down what she saw was literally shadows grasping at her legs. The fear that for a second overtook her was enough for Naruto to tug the sword out of her hands and make a run for it.

He heard her yelling something as he ran towards what he thought was the road that would lead to the next town. Hopefully it was also the one that would lead towards Crocus, it would suck if he had to come back to this place.

After a few more minutes of jogging he reached the edge of the town, he slowed down when he saw a post with a few signs on it. One pointed back to the town and said 'Welcome to Gurren village' instantly forgetting the name of the crappy town he looked at the sign that pointed in the other direction 'Road to Riddren'.

He did not recognize that name, he did have a map in his bag though so he set his sword down and started rummaging though his backpack. Finally he brought the map up and tried to figure out where the town Riddren was. Just as he saw the name on the map, said item was cut in half by a knife that came out of seemingly nowhere.

He cried out in surprise from the sudden attack, and looked around for whoever had thrown it. He quickly found himself facing the girl that had tried to steal his sword again. She glared at him as she flicked her wrist and suddenly had four knives between her fingers.

''You're not leaving until you give me that sword!''

Naruto felt his eye start twitching ''I already told you it's mine you idiot!''

''wh-! Who are you calling idiot you idiot!?''

''you! I'm calling you an idiot!'' as he yelled Naruto not so subtly reached down and picked his backpack up ignoring her response, then as she started yelling about him not answering he reached down picked the sword off the ground and started running. He covered his back with the sword as he ran so she wouldn't be able to hit him with those knives. Hopefully.

However as he ran he kept glancing back to make sure that girl wouldn't be able to catch up to him. Before he knew it he ran into someone, and fell on his back. He had a feeling this had already happened once as he looked up.

Then he felt like his body turned to ice. He recognized this person, the same camouflage pants, and even though the trees over them made it hard to see the persons face it was awfully similar to the one he had seen earlier. Then he noticed the sword that was peaking out form behind the persons back, almost identical to the one he was currently sitting on.

He barely heard the girl behind him who happily shouted ''oh! You're finally back Master Zabuza!''